Category: News & Events

Action Deaf Youth: This year we have a group of 12 parents of deaf children doing BSL Level 3 with us 😀🧠

We believe this is the FIRST time ever that a group of parents of deaf children have had an opportunity to do a Level 3 BSL course together in NI and possibly the first time ever in the UK! 🙌

We also have three other groups of parents doing BSL Level 1 in Dungannon, Ballymena and Belfast and a very special group of grandparents also doing BSL Level 1. 👍

Next year we hope to offer BSL Level 1 and BSL Level 2 courses again specifically for parents/grandparents/close adult family members of deaf children aged 0-8 years.

These free courses will be taught by our in-house BSL tutor, Michelle Hull, whom many of our regular families already know. Our courses are unique in that they are specially designed to equip parents/grandparents with the signing skills needed to communicate effectively immediately with young deaf children in playful ways.

Between 2018 and 2019, the Employment team has helped six people who are deaf or have hearing loss access full-time work and five people access part-time work.

Many people who take part in the Specialist Employment Programme have not worked for several years, and can find it difficult to get employment. Through the programme, they can benefit from one-to-one mentoring from Employment Advisors, support with job searching, interview practice, help getting work experience and accredited training.

Further read at: www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/about-us/our-work-across-the-uk/northern-ireland/regional-updates/eleven-people-in-work-thanks-to-employment-programme/

Belfast City Council has today become the first Northern Ireland council to sign up to the British/Irish Sign Language Charter, committing to promote better access to public services for Deaf communities.

We are delighted that Belfast City Council has made the historic decision to sign three pledges of the BSL/ISL Charter – especially during Sign Language Week!

Read more: https://bda.org.uk/belfast-city-council-signs-bsl-isl-charter/

I’m doing a PhD at UCL Institute of Education looking at how sign language interpreting support is provided to Deaf students studying at university, and the experiences of Deaf students and interpreters.

The results I’m sharing here are the first part of my study. We all know Deaf students often have a lot of difficulties at university and our research project is looking at their sign language interpreting support.

There’s currently very little information about how interpreting support is provided and how Deaf students feel about their interpreting support. Therefore, the first part of this project was an information-gathering activity and we want to share some of the initial results.

Much of what we’ve found probably won’t surprise you, but we needed to collect the evidence to then move forward.

Further read at: http://www.unapeda.asso.fr/article.php3?id_article=3067

A deaf woman has applied for 1,000 jobs in 18 months – and not landed a single one.

Kellie Wilson, from Middleton Tyas, North Yorkshire, believes she is being snubbed by would-be employers because of her disability.

Every job application she has made since the summer of 2017 has resulted in a series of rejections.

Now, she is so desperate that she is contemplating cochlear implants knowing that they may not even work.

Further read at: www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/deaf-woman-applies-1000-jobs-13985129

Alabssi is deaf, and the character he played in the TV series, Black Summer, is deaf, too.

Read this article on unapeda website,please click on

Mustafa Alabssi’s incredible journey: Nexflix debut the latest feat for deaf Syrian refugee

UNAPEDA

UNAPEDA The French association of parents of deaf and hard of hearing children

www.unapeda.asso.fr

L’UNAPEDA est sur Facebook

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY 🎉

Play Ranger x 10 😁

We are looking for 🔟 people to join our team! From all over NI 🌍

⭐️ Work with deaf children in our play groups
⭐️ You choose what age group (0-2 yrs, 2-4 yrs, 4-8 yrs)
⭐️ Inspire the children’s parents
⭐️ 3 hrs every week approx.
⭐️ Full training given

Application pack: https://www.communityni.org/job/play-ranger

More info? Text or FaceTime 07563 912687

Every morning, County Antrim woman Wendy Newbronner’s first task is waking up her three children.

Unlike most parents though, she cannot shout into their rooms and tell them to get up. All her sons are deaf.

Mrs Newbronner had to pay to learn sign language after her first child was born, and now supports calls for a sign language act in Northern Ireland.

Scotland is the only part of the UK with an act, but legislation was passed in the Republic of Ireland last year.

The problem is, without a functioning Stormont assembly, legislation for sign language in Northern Ireland cannot be introduced.

Further read at: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-43814029

“All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small…”

The classic hymn by Cecil Frances Alexander has endured the test of time, 200 years after her birth.

But few know of the part both great and small that the hymn played in transforming the education of deaf children in 19th century northern Ireland.

And fewer still know the tragedy that befell its writer’s dream.

Cecil Frances (Humphreys) Alexander and her sister Anne were very involved in local church activities in Strabane, including visits to local families.

It was on one of these visits they encountered a small deaf boy from a poor home.

“They were concerned about the barrenness of his existence and the blank future he faced and also the fact he was cut off from knowledge of the love of God and the Christian way of life,” said Brian Symington.

Further read at: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-44018269

In Belfast, Derry and Newtownabbey, see the poster for dates and details

With BDA Northern Ireland & Health and Social Care board.

Refreshment will be provided, please confirm your attendance.